Topic:

WMD, Chemical and Biological

In a recent Washington Examiner column, Gene Healy, a vice president at the Cato Institute, suggests that we worry too much about serious threats to national security. He posits that we are in an era of great peace and stability. To downplay the threat of bioterrorism, Mr. Healy quotes Milton Leitenberg from the University of Maryland: “The idea that four guys in a cave are going to create bioweapons from scratch — that will be never, ever, ever.” The statements of both Mr. Healy and Mr. Leitenberg require rebuttal.

NYC “Dirty Bomb” Drill Hailed as Success – GSN
A large-scale antiterrorism drill last week met its goal of preventing any mock radiological “dirty bombs” from being smuggled into New York City, Newsday reported on Tuesday.

Please join the GW Homeland Security Policy Institute for a discussion about Presidential Policy Directive – 8: National Preparedness, featuring Brian Kamoie, Senior Director for Preparedness Policy on the White House National Security Staff. President Barack Obama signed a new Presidential Policy Directive on National Preparedness last week and the Directive will be publicly released at this event.

House Bills Set Up Potential Jurisdiction Fight Over Chemical Security – NYTimes.com In an unexpected twist, two House committees may find themselves in a jurisdiction fight over dueling bills to reauthorize the country’s program to secure chemical facilities against terrorist attacks and thefts. Members of both the House Homeland Security Committee and House Energy and […]

By Doug Doan
The FDA has decided to start monitoring the radiation levels of Japanse Exports. No doubt the announcement was carefully constructed to make Americans feel better about the food they eat, while simultaneously reminding everyone that the FDA is on the job of food safety. It might just work too. Most Americans, have absolutely no idea how products are screening at our various Ports of Entry before they enter the United States. But for anyone that has been around a bit, the FDA announcement can only be viewed with intense skepticism.

By Peter Probst
Here is an excerpt from an article to be published in the winter edition of the magazine, “Inside Homeland Security.” I recently returned from Israel where I had been invited to speak at the World Wide Counter-Terrorism Summit. An issue that dominated much of the discussions concerned the threat of a nuclear Iran, and how Israel and the US would likely respond to the challenge. Virtually every Israeli I spoke to was adamant that Iran could not be permitted to go nuclear. There was less certainty as to the degree and nature of support Israel could expect from its friends and allies.

Concerns over bioterrorism grow – Homeland Security Newswire
Recent concern about the growing threat of bioterrorism attacks that could strike cities throughout the world has led governments, militaries, and the biopharmaceutical industry to a heightened state of alert.

Security Experts Say No Nuclear Option for Al Qaeda – CQ Homeland Security
The nightmare scenario that keeps homeland security officials awake at night — the detonation of a nuclear bomb on U.S. soil — is unlikely enough to be safely relegated to the land of dreams, a pair of prominent security experts said Tuesday at a Capitol Hill forum.

Security Debrief is a blog dedicated to homeland security, terrorism and counter-terrorism, intelligence and law enforcement that provides context to the debates, policies and politics that are playing out in Washington, D.C.